Magnetic supporting device for containers



Oct. 16, 1956 w. v. DOYLE MAGNETIC SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERSFiled March 6, 1951 INVENTOR. Mfigy/e 2,766,909 Patented Oct. 16, 1956MAGNETEQ SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS William V. Doyle, Chicago,Ill.

Application March 6, 1951, Serial No. 214,188

Claims. (Cl. 222105) This invention relates generally to devices forsupporting containers having a neck until the contents are desired to bedispensed therefrom, and relates particularly to a magnetic device forsupporting a container for ready use thereof, at the same timeprotecting the contents from air or contamination.

While the invention is concerned generally with supporting or holdingcontainers in position for immediate use, at the same time protectingthe contents thereof against air or contamination, it is particularlyuseful in connection with collapsible tubes, such as a tube of shavingcream, toothpaste or the like, and will, therefore, be exemplified inthat connection without any intent to thereby limit the scope of theinvention. The invention is characterized by a mounting receptacle, orbody portion, which can be fastened to a Wall, clipped to a shelf, orsupported from a hook, etc., the receptacle having a recess therein andan entrance opening thereto for a filling and dispensing neck of acollapsible tube, or other container. One or more magnets are supportedby the receptacle and are so disposed with reference to the entranceopening to the recess that magnetic lines of fiux will be providedacross the recess and preferably adjacent the entrance opening, aferro-magnetic closure member being secured to the filling anddispensing neck and adapted with the filling and dispensing neck toprovide a closure for said recess to prevent the entrance of air andcontamination to the contents of the tube while being so magneticallysupported.

if desired, the magnetic means could itself be so formed as to "alsoserve as the receptacle.

In one form of the invention, the receptacle is supported on a wallbracket, and has a circular upstanding flange which rests upon the wallbracket and provides a support for a tumbler or drinking glass. In thisform of the invention, the receptacle has a circular outline and extendsthrough an aperture formed in the support bracket, the walls of thereceptacle having molded therein a more or less horseshoe-shaped magnet,for example. The magnet molded within the receptacle thus provides linesof force to hold a ferromagnetic closure member against, and/or within,the receptacle. The ferro-rnagnetic closure member may be internallythreaded to cooperate with the threaded filling and dispensing neck of acollapsible tube, for example.

in one form of the invention, as will be described in thisspecification, the receptacle is molded integrally with a spring clipwhereby the spring clip may hold the receptacle, or body portion, to astorage shelf such as is commonly found in a medicine cabinet in abathroom. in this form of the invention, a recess is provided in thereceptacle for the filling and dispensing neck of the collapsible tube,and the receptacle is molded integrally with a magnet, or magnets, toattract and hold a closure member or a collar, which is secured to thecollapsible tube, within the recess of the receptacle.

In another form of the invention, the receptacle is provided with arecess having a substantially hemispheri- 2 cal surface, and a closurehaving a mating spherical surface is threaded to the filling anddispensing neck of the collapsible tube, the tube and the closure memberbeing held in position by a slug of magnetic metal molded integrallywith the receptacle.

it is a principal object of this invention to enable a collapsible tubefor toothpaste or the like to be readily used without the necessity ofremoving a cap therefrom at each time of use, the tube with its contentsafter such periods of use being capable of being stored in a readilyaccessible manner in a minimum of space while preventing access of airor contamination to the contents of the tube.

Another object of the invention comprehends the use of a magneticholding member and a ferro-magnetic closure member cooperatingtherewith, the magnetic holding member being adapted to hold acollapsible tube together with its contents in a position whereby it maybe readily supported.

Another object is to provide a supporting device for a collapsible tubeor the like, which device will support the tube in a vertical positionso that it does not take up as much horizontal supporting surface (e. g.on a shelf or the like) as it usually requires.

Still another object is to provide a closure element or collar which isremovably secured to a container neck and which may be used over againwith other containers.

Other objects and important features of the invention will be apparentfrom a study of the within specification taken together with thedrawings which show several pre ferred embodiments of the invention, andwhat is now considered to be the best modes of applying the principlesthereof. While the invent-ion is shown and described in terms of anumber of preferred embodiments thereof, his not intended that theinvention be limited by the exact embodiments shown nor otherwise thanby the terms of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a supporting device having embodied thereinthe improvements according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical, cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the mannerin which a collapsible tube may be supported by the device according tothe present invention;

Figure 2A is a fragmentary, vertical, cross sectional view similar toFigure 2 but showing a modification thereof;

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 33 in Figure 2 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of another form f the invention, showing acollapsible tube being supported thereby;

Figure 5 is a section taken 'along the hue 55 in Figure 4 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a section taken along the line 66 in Figure 5 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a section taken through a receptacle wherein another form ofthe invention is embodied;

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 8-8 in Figure 7looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 9 is a section similar to that of Figure 6 but on smaller scaleand showing the use of a pair of bar magnets in place of a singlemagnet.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there isshown a supporting device 10 having means, such as an angle bracket 11having a vertical backplate 12, which may be secured to the wall as bymounting screws 13, and a horizontal plate 12a. As shown in Figure 1,the supporting device 10 may be provided with a plurality of openings 15for toothbrush handles so that the brushes maybe supported on thebracket. The bracket 11 is provided with a circular aperture 15a toreceive an annular-shaped body portion, or receptacle, 14. preferablymolded of thermoplastic, .or similar, material and having a flange 16.whereby the receptacle 14 may rest on the bracket 11. The flange 16 isintegral with a cup-shaped ring 17 to provide a recess fora watertumbler 18 or the like. j

The body portion 14 has an annular flange 19 which extends down throughthe aperture 15a formed in the bracket 11 to define a recess 21 intowhich a filling and dispensing neck 22 of a collapsible container 23 mayextend. The annular flange 19 is molded with a substantiallyhorseshoe-shaped magnet 24 being disposed therein, said magnet beingformed from an aluminum, nickel and cobalt alloy having a high degree ofretentivity. The magnet 24 thus provides magnetic lines of flux acrossthe recess 21 adjacent its entrance 26. Preferably, the magnet 24 isdisposed within said body portion, since, in that way, it will bemaintained out of contact with the contents of the container and lesssubject to corrosion.

A closure member 27 is adapted to be threaded to the overlies thereceptacle 31 and is bent to provide a vertical filling and dispensingneck 22 of the collapsible tube 23.

Member 27 consists of a nozzle portion or collar 28 and a generallyradially extending flange portion 29 adapted to seat against the lowerend of the body member 14 over the entrance 26 and within a counterbore30. The closure member 27, or a portion thereof such as the flange 29 orcollar 28, is made of ferro-magnetic material so that it will beattracted toward the magnet 24 thereby holding the closure member 27 andtube 23 in the position shown in Figure 2. The amount of attractiveforce of the magnet 24 for the ferro-magnetic closure 27 is sufiicientto hold it and the tube 23 as shown in Figure 2, but the amount of suchmagnetic attraction is insufficient to prevent remofitl of the tube 23and the closure 27 from the position as seen in Figure 2 whereby thecontents of the tube may be emptied as desired. It will be appreciatedthat the closure member itself might comprise a permanent magnet, with aferro-magnetic member being carried by the body member 14 in place ofmagnet 24.

In Figure 2A there is shown a modification wherein the flange 2 of theclosure member 27 has a resilient ring 23a of sealing material disposedon its upper surface and wherein the opposing surface of the body member14 has a cooperating ring 14a of resilient material. The attraction ofthe magnet 24 for the ferro-magnetic closure member 27 causes the rings29a and 14a to be brought into engagement to provide an excellent sealagainst the entrance of air or dirt to the recess 21. If desired, one orthe other of the rings 14a and 29a may be dispensed with.

In using the supporting device as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of thedrawings, it is'necessary only to remove the obvious, of course, thatwhen the contents of the tube have been completely expended, the closuremember 27 may be removed therefrom and applied to a replacement tube. 7

iAs seen in Figure S, .the clip'32 has a limb 33 which 7 member and theend of the neck stop limb 34 and a horizontal limb 36 which is embeddedin the material forming the receptacle 31. As with the receptacle 14,the receptacle 31 may be molded from any suitable plastic moldingmaterial such as cellulose acetate, styrene or the like.

In place of the clip 32 there might be used other supporting means such,for example, as a hook or screw eye (not shown) connected with the topofthe body portion 31, for suspending the whole supporting device.

from some fixed object.

As seen in Figure 5, the underside of the receptacle, or body portion,31 is formed with a dome-shaped recess 37 defined by asurface 38 whichflares into a circular counterbore 39. As seen in Figure 6, thereceptacle 31 is molded integrally with a generally horeshoe-shapedmagnet 41, which provides magnetic lines of flux across the recess 37.The filling and dispensing neck 22 of the collapsible tube 23 is adaptedto enter the recess 37, and is provided with a threaded collar 42 madeof plastic material or the like. The collar 42 is molded integrally witha circular flange 43 adapted to seat within the counter bore 39. Thecollar and flange together form a closure member similar to the closuremember 27 of Figures 1 to 3. The flange 43 is formed of ferro-magneticmaterial so as to be attracted to the magnet 41 and to be held therebywith the collar 42 and the tube 23 in the position as shown in Figure 5.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, there is shown still anotherembodiment of the invention. In this form the receptacle 31 is also inthe shape of a flat block adapted to be held to the underside of a shelfby the spring clip 32, which is molded to the receptacle 31 in a fashionsimilar to the spring clip shown in Figure 5. The receptacle, or bodyportion, 31 is' provided with a hemisphericalshaped recess 44 whichcooperates with a hemispherically- V shaped closure member 46 threadedto the filling and dispensing neck 22 of the collapsible tube 23. Theclosure member 46, or a portion thereof, is made of ferro-magneticmaterial and cooperates with a slug of magnetic metal 47 which ismoldedintegrally into the receptacle 3 1. The closure member 46 is thusattracted to the magnet 47 and'holds the tube 23 in the position as seenin Figure 7.

In this form of the invention the closure member 46 itself provides acomplete end closure for the container 23, apart from the walls of therecess. .However, the

top portion of the closure-46 may be eliminated (for ex- A modificationof Figures 4, 5 and 6 is shown in Figure 9. Figure 9 is a sectionsimilar to Figure 6 but on reduced scale and showing a pair of barmagnets 41:; and 41b beingsubstituted for the horseshoe-shaped magnet 41of Figure 6. V 7 a It'will be understood that in all illustrated formsof the invention more than one permanent magnet may be employed.Consequently, in the claims reference to magnetic means or similarWording is intended to embrace the plural as Well as the singular unlessthe context clearly indicates otherwise. 7 I

. Inall forms of the invention it is preferred'to provide clearancebetween the inner end of the recess in the body of the supported tube(or the'end of the collar on the neck, Whichever protrudes more) sothatslight amounts of dispensed material at the end of theneck, orcollar, will not be smeared on the surface of the recess at its inner.endwhen the tube is returned to its supported position. 7

According to the present invention, there has been provided a. novel anduseful device for supporting a collapsible tube or other container forready use. With the supporting and holding device according to thepresent invention the user of the container is not required to removethe cap prior to each time of use, with the attendant possibility oflosing it. Yet, with the device according to the present invention, thecontents of the container are always shielded from the presence of airor contamination Whenever the container is in the supported position.

While the invention has been described according to several preferredembodiments thereof, it is not inter. .L that the invention be limitedby the emboimcnts shown nor otherwise than by the terms of the claimshere appended.

I claim:

1. A supporting device for a collapsibie tube or the like having a screwthreaded neck, said device comprising a body portion, supporting meansadapted to support the body portion from a fixed object, a recess insaid body portion bordered by a counterbore, magnetic means disposedwithin said body portion and positioned to provide magnetic lines offlux adjacent said recess, a screw threaded closure member adapted to beconnected with the neck of the collapsible tube, said closure memberhaving a collar portion and a radially extending flange and adapted forinsertion Within said recess with said flange seating in saidcounterbore to seal the open end of said recess to limit the insertionof said closure member into said recess and to locate the closure membercoaxially of said recess, at least a portion of said closure memberbeing formed of term-magnetic material.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the radially extending flange of theclosure member is formed of ferro-magnetic material for magneticallycoupling said closure member to said body portion.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the magnetic means comprises agenerally U-shaped permanent magnet partialiy encircling the recess.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the magnetic means comprises aplurality of permanent magnetic members.

5. For use with the threaded neck of a container and a magneticsupporting device, a closure member having an internal thread adapted tomate with the thread of the neck, and a radially extending flange, saidflange being formed at least in part of ferro-magnetic material so thatsaid closure member may be magnetically gripped by bringing the flangethereon into the magnetic field of the supporting device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,247,600 Priddy Nov. 20, 1917 1,915,671 Hyer June 27, 1932 1,984,610Warren Dec. 18, 1934 2,078,149 Lutz Apr. 20, 1937 2,184,212 DavidsonDec. 13, 1939 2,414,653 Lookholder Jan. 21, 1947 2,438,231 Schultz Mar.23, 1948 2,457,032 Case Dec. 21, 1948 2,465,971 Leblong Mar. 29, 1949

